contrast
vb
1 often foll by: with to distinguish or be distinguished by comparison of unlike or opposite qualities
n
2 distinction or emphasis of difference by comparison of opposite or dissimilar things, qualities, etc. (esp. in the phrases by contrast, in contrast to or with)
3 a person or thing showing notable differences when compared with another
4 (in painting) the effect of the juxtaposition of different colours, tones, etc.
a (of a photographic emulsion) the degree of density measured against exposure used
b the extent to which adjacent areas of an optical image, esp. on a television screen or in a photographic negative or print, differ in brightness
6 (Psychol) the phenomenon that when two different but related stimuli are presented close together in space and/or time they are perceived as being more different than they really are
(C16: (n): via French from Italian, from contrastare (vb), from Latin contra- against + stare to stand)
♦
contrastable adj
♦
contrastably adv
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contrasting adj
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contrastive adj
♦
contrastively adv
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